Interchangeable pleater for sewing machines



May 19, 1964 N. GORIN ETAL 3,133,516

INTERCHANGEABLE PLEATER FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Nov. 14, 1960 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 19, 1964 N. GORlN ETAL 3,133,516

INTERCHANGEABLE PLEATER FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Nov. 14, 1960 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 M y 1964 N. GORIN ETAL 3,133,516

INTERCHANGEABLE FLEATER FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Nov. 14, 1960 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 z I I58 T g) i INVENTURS I .5 54 G 5 60 ll! NATHAN 0am :3, SAUL GORIN 3 RAYMOND GORIN 38\ 4O NED GQRi'N y 19, 1964 N. GORIN ETAL 3,133,516

INTERCHANGEABLE PLEATER FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Nov. 14. 1960 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 zm/zm'ozzs NATHAN GORIN SAUL- GORIN RAYMOND scam NED comm Arrmzvzv May 19, 1964 Filed Nov. 14, 1960 N. GORIN ETAL 3,133,516

INTERCHANGEABLE PLEATER FOR SEWING MACHINES 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 o 0 JWVEA/ZORLS NATHAN GORIN M Z SAUL GORIN 3e mwmouu GORIN NED G-QRYIN May 19, 1964 GORlN ETAL 3,133,516

INTERCHANGEABLE PLEATER FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Nov. 14, 1960 v '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 I VE TDRS. NFITHFIIPL NGOFHN SHUL. GOHIN RHYMOND GOPHN NED GO RIN ATTORNEY y 9, 1964 N GORIN ETAL 3,133,516

INTERCHANGEABLE PLEATER FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Nov. 14, 1960 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 M/VE/VZWRS NATHAN GORIN 885:2. AYM R N?!) GORIN United States Patent I 3,133,516 INTERCHANGEABLE PLEATER FOR SEWING MACHINES Nathan Gorin, 416 W. Hudson St., Long Beach, N.Y.;

Saul Gerin, 675 Ave. Z, Brooklyn, N.Y.; Raymond Gorin, 18 Nevin Terrace, Maasapequa, N.Y.; and Ned Gorin, 5716 Farragut Road, Brockiyn, N.Y. Filed Nov. 14, 1960, Ser. No. 69,181 4 Claims. (Cl. 112-132) This invention relates generally to sewing machines and attachments therefor and more particularly to an attachment or interchangeable pleater for pleating material as it progresses beneath the needles to be stitched. 1

A principal object of the present invention is to provide fully automatic mechanism for producing the aforefeatures of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a sewing machine equipped with pleating mechanism embodying the present invention, parts being broken away.

FIG. 2 is a rear view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view thereof.

FIG. 4' is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3, on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 5 is a sectional View taken on the line 55 of FIG. 3, on an enlarged scale, showing the pleating mechanism in operative position.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged end elevational view taken on the line 66 of FIG. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the pleating mechanism in operative position, parts being omitted.

FIG. 7 is a similar view but showing the pleating mechanism moved to inoperative position.

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 88 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the pleating plate lifting mechanism.

FIG. 10 is a similar view of a portion of the mechanism for moving the pleating plate toward and away from the needles.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of FIG. 3. v

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective detail view of the needles and stripper plate.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing one step in the formation of a. pleat, a strip of material being shown on the stripper plate in partly pleated condition, the pleating plate being shown moved into operative position for partly forming a pleat.

FIG. 14 is a similar View but showing the pleating plate in final position for forming a pleat.

FIG. 15 is a similar view but showing the pleating plate moved to inoperative position.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary top plan view of a strip of material showing pleats formed thereon.

FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing a modified pleating mechanism.

FIG. 18 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the modified pleating mechanism shown in FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary front elevational view of one end of the machine showing the pleating mechanism of FIG. 17

FIG. 20 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 20-20 of FIG. 17.

FIG. 21 is an exploded perspective view of the pleating mechanism of FIG. 17

FIG. 22 is a fragmentary view of a strip of material showing a loop constituting one-half a box pleat made by the pleating mechanism.

FIG. 23 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of a strip of material showing a pleat formed with the pleating mechanism of FIGS. 17-21.

FIG. 24 is a top plan view of another modified form'of cam.

- FIG. 25 is a bottom plan view thereof.

FIG. 26 is a top plan view of a fragment of material showing pleats formed by the cam of FIG. 24.

Referring in detail to the drawings, in FIG. 1 there is shown a sewing machine of standard construction for making lock chain stitches, embodying the present invention, the machine being indicated generally by the reference numeral 20. The machine comprises broadly a base 22 with head 24 having an overhanging tubular arm 26 and a needle head 28 which carries a reciprocating needle bar 30 in which a pair of needles 32 are secured in the usual manner. The head also carries a presser foot bar 34 to which is secured a presser foot 36 beneath which are the usual reciprocating feed dogs 38 to advance the material longitudinally underneath the presser foot in the rearward direction. The material or work such as the strip 39 shown in FIG. 15 moves over a stripper or stationary plate 49 secured at one end to the top surface of the base and extending from one long edge thereof to the edge of the foot 36. In accordance with. usual practice, as the needles reciprocate they will cooperate with the other mechanisms of the machine for forming lines of stitches shown in FIG. 15.

The machine is provided with the usual needle-actuating shaft 42 which is journalled in the arm 26 and which is operatively connected to and driven by the main drive shaft 43 connected to a pulley 44 driven by a belt 45. The belt is connected to any suitable source of power. A hand wheel 46 is connected to the shaft 42 for manual turning of the shaft as usual. Shaft 42 actuates the pleating mechanism which will now be described.

The pleating mechanism is supported from the overhanging arm 26 of the machine by means of an integrally formed bracket 59 extending radially from one side of the arm midway its ends. The bracket terminates in a sleeve bearing 52 disposed parallel to the arm. A slotted transverse opening 54 is formed in the Wall of the arm 26 adja cent the bracket 50. A pinion 56 is secured around the needle actuating shaft 42 opposite the opening 54. A spur gear 58 is mounted on a stub shaft 66 extending from the bracket 50 and extends through the opening 54 into mesh with the pinion 56. A pinion 62 is fixed around the stub shaft 60 outwardly of the gear 58. A stub shaft 64 is journalled in the sleeve bearing 52 and mounted on one protruding end of the shaft 64 there is a sprocket wheel 66 having teeth 68 on its periphery in mesh with the teeth on the pinion 62 so that the drive from the needle-actuating shaft 42 is brought to the stub shaft 64. The sprocket wheel is fixed on the stub shaft 64 by means of setscrews 74) passing through openings in the hub portion '72 of the wheel. The stub shaft 60 is lubricated by means of anoiler74 associated with the pinion 62.

The other end of the stub shaft 64 is threaded as indicated at '78. A camming disk having a central opening 82 is mounted on the threaded end of the shaft. A spacer sleeve 34 is interposed between the end of the bearing sleeve and the disk. A locating pin 86 extends from one '1 CD end edge of the spacer sleeve and coordinates with a guide hole 88 formed in the camming disk adjacent its central opening 82. The pin guides the camming disk to proper position on the shaft 64. The disk is secured on the end of the shaft by means of a knurled nut member 90 having a hub portion 92 threaded onto the end of the shaft. On one surface of the disk 80 there is cut a continuous or endless annular groove or track 94 adjacent the outer periphery of the disk. The inner edge wall 36 of the track or groove 94 is formed with spaced radial projections or lobes 98 extending into spaced notches 100 formed in the outer edge wall 102 of the groove or track.

The opposite surface of the disk 801s also formed with a continuous or endless annular groove or track 104 positioned radially inwardly of the track 94. The inner edge wall 106 of the track or groove 104 is formed with spaced notches 108 adapted to receive and accommodate spaced radial projections or lobes 110 extending from the outer edge wall 112 of the groove or track. The camming disk 80 is concentrically arranged with the sprocket wheel 66 on shaft 64. The pin 86 permits camming disks having various spaced radial projections to be interchangeably mounted on the shaft 64 in proper position.

A bracket 114 extends from the other side of the overhanging arm 26 opposite the bracket 50. A sleeve bearing 118 is formed integrally with the outer end of bracket 114 and journalled in bearing 118 there is a stub shaft 126. Shaft 120 extends from both ends of the bearing and secured to one extending end there is the hub portion 122 of an arm 124 extending downwardly from the bearing. The hub portion is fastened to the shaft by means of setscrews 126. A sleeve bearing 127 is formed integrally with the other bottom end of the arm 124. A stub shaft 128 is jornalled in bearing 127 and extends from both ends thereof. The hub portion 130 of a pleating and pinching plate 132 is fastened to one extending end of shaft 128 by means of setscrews 134. The pleating and pinching plate 132 normally extends inwardly over the stripper plate 40. Plate 132 is formed with a pair of closely spaced slots 136 intersecting one end thereof adjacent one side to provide clearance for the pair of needles 32.

Cam controlled and guided mechanism for swinging the pleating plate 132 toward and away from the needles 32 will now be described. A bracket 140 is formed integrally with the overhanging arm below the upper bracket 50 and to one side thereof and extends radially in the same direction as bracket 50. The outer end of the bracket 140 is formed with a transverse opening serving as a bearing opening for a stub shaft 144 which extends at both ends thereof. A casting 146 is fixed to the outer extending ends of shaft 144 and turns therewith. The casting 146 consists of a cylindrical bar 148 formed with a cutout portion 150 intermediate its ends on one side thereof forming end hub portions 152 and 154. The cutout portion 150 of the casting seats again the rounded end of the bracket 140 with the hub portions 152 and 154 outwardly of the ends of the outer end of the bracket and with the openings in the hub portions in alignment with the bearing opening 142 in the bracket. The stub shaft 144 extends through the openings in the hub portions. A tapering arm 156 is formed integrally with the hub portion 152 and extends radially thereof. A roller 158 is carried at the free end of arm 156 and extends laterally thereof, into the groove or track 94 of the camming disk 80.

Another arm 160 extends radially from the other hub portion 154 in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of extension of arm 156. Arm 160 is longer than arm 156 and is formed with an elongated closed slot 162 centrally thereof. A link member 166 is formed with a bifurcated end 168, the bifurcations of which span the arm 160 and are formed with hub portions 17 having aligned openings which are in alignment with the slot 162 in the arm for receiving a winged screw member 17 2 for clamping the bifurcated ends of the link to the arm. The other end of the link member 166 is pivotally connected to a short lever 174 fastened to the other end of stub shaft 120. A tension spring 176 having one end fastened to the free end of arm 156 and its other end fastened to the inner end of bracket 14% tends to pull the roller 158 against the outer edge wall 182 of groove or track 94.

Mechanism for raising and lowering the pleating and pinching plate 132 and holding the plate in raised position will now be described. This mechanism includes a lever 180 having a hub portion 182 at one end fastened to the other extending end of stub shaft 128. The other end of lever 180 is pivotally connected at 181 to one end of a link 184 which link is pivotally connected at 186 to one end of a lever 188. The other end of lever 188 carries a roller 190 extending laterally thereof and into the groove or track 104 on the camming disk 80. The lever is pivoted midway its ends on a projecting pivot bolt 189 passing through spaced sieves 185 and 183 and secured in the bracket 50. A tension spring 192 having one end fastened to the hub portion 92 of nut and its other end secured to shank 194 of the roller 190 tends to pull roller 190 against the edge wall 106 of the groove or track 104.

In operation, when pulley 44 is turned by the belt 45 from any suitable source of power, the main shaft 43 of the machine drives the needle-actuating shaft 42. The turning movement of the shaft 42 is imparted to the camming disk 83 by means of the gearing and sprocket wheel interposed between the shaft 42 and the cam shaft 64. The turning of the camming disk will have the effect of swinging the pleating and pinching plate 132 toward and away from the needles 32 and holding the plate in moved position and also will have the effect of raising and lowering the pleating or pinching plate and holding the plate in raised or lowered position. The swinging movement is accomplished by means of the roller 158 on lever arm 156 followng and riding over the projectings or lobes 98 on the edge wall or periphery 96 of groove or track 94. Lever arm 156 turns the cylindrical bar 148 on stub shaft 144 and carries the integral arm along with it. Movement of arm 160 moves the link 166 which in turn moves the lever 174 fixed on stub shaft 120 turning the shaft. Turning of shaft 126 rocks arm 124 inwardly or outwardly toward the needles 32. Momentarily before the plate 132 starts to swing inwardly, the plate is moved downwardly into contacting relation with the stripper or stationary plate 49 thereby pinching the strip of material 39 and the plate is held in pinching position so as to prevent slipping of the material.

The inward swinging movement of the plate 132 is considerably faster than the normal feed of the strip of material so that the inner edge of plate 132 pushes more material toward the needles than the feeding mechanism does, thereby causing the material to pucker up in the center and thus form a loop L as shown in FIG. 13. Continued inward movement of the plate forces the material underneath the foot 36 forming a fold or pleat P as shown in FIG. 14. The slots 136 in plate 132 permit the inner edge of the plate to pass below the needles to end looping and pleating position.

Simultaneously with the start of the return or outward movement of plate 132, the inner end of the plate is raised from the strip of material 39 and the plate is carried outwardly in raised position so as not to draw any material outwardly therewith. The plate is held in such raised position until the time for moving the plate inwardly toward the needles. This raising and lowering of the plate 132 is accomplished and controlled by the roller 191) engaged in groove or track'1tl4 following the inner edge wall or periphery 112 and riding over the lobes 110 whereby the lever 188 pulls the link 184 which in turn rocks lever and consequently stub shaft 128 in one direction for raising the plate and in the opposite direction for lowering the inner end of the plate into contact with stationary plate 40.

It will thus be seen that the character and nature of the groups of pleats P are determined by the number of lobes on the track on the camming disk 80 which rotates on shaft 64 driven by the gearing and toothed sprocket wheel 66 from the needle actuating shaft 42 so that said shaft 64 rotates continuously with and in timed relation to the needle actuating shaft 42 during the stitching operations.

The ratio of speed of the needle actuating shaft 42 and the toothed sprocket wheel 66 and cam 80 is '18 to l and six each of lobes 98 and 110 are shown formed in each of the grooves or tracks 94 and 104, respectively, so that three stitches are formed for each inward movement of the pleating plate 132.

The camming disk 80 may readily be removed and a disk with a different ratio interchanged therefore, and the sizes of the pleats may be readily varied by changing the point of connection between the link 166 and the lever arm 160. j

In FIGS. 17 to 21, modified form of pleating mechanism for making a different type of pleating, such as a box pleat P1 of FIG. 23, is shown. This pleating mechanism is controlled by a modified form of cam disk 80'. On one surface of the cam disk, an endless groove 94' is formed adjacent the periphery of the disk and formed on the inner edge wall or periphery of the groove there are two lobes 98' in opposed relation. The outer edge wall or periphery of the groove is formed with indentations 100 opposed to the lobes 98'.

On its opposite face, the cam disk 86 is formed with an endless groove 104 remote from the periphery of the wheel and inwardly of the groove 94 on the other surface. At one point on the inner edge wall or periphery of the groove 104', a protruding lobe 116 is formed thereon, and at a point opposite said lobe on the inner edge wall or periphery, the edge wall is formed with an indentation 200. The outer edge wall or periphery of groove 104 is formed with an indentation 262 opposite the lobe 110' and with a lobe 264 opposite the indentation 200. A modified presser foot 36' having an upwardly curved free end 205 is also provided.

The pleating mechanism or assembly proper comprises a shaft 128' extending laterally from the bearing sleeve 127 on the bottom end of arm 124. A tube 206 is sleeved around the shaft 128' and is held thereon by a headed screw 208. An oval-shaped block 210 is fixed on the end of the tube 206 adjacent the bearing sleeve 127 in vertical position. Another shaft 212 extends through an opening 214 in the bottom of the block. A pleating plate 132' of rectangular shape has one end curled around the shaft 212 in the form a sleeve 218. The other end of the plate is formed with a cut-away portion 220 adjacent one side thereof. A screw 22]. holds the sleeve 218 on shaft 212. A shaft 222 extends through an opening 224 in the top of the block. A pleating plate 226 of rectangular shape has one end curled around the shaft 222 in the form of a sleeve 228. A screw 230 holds sleeve 228 on shaft 222.

A bracket 232 is fixed to the sleeve 228 of the top pleating plate 226 and a similar bracket 234 to the sleeve 218 of the bottom pleating plate 132. An elongated coiled spring 236, vertically disposed, has one end hooked to the top bracket 232 and has its other end hooked to the bottom bracket 234, the spring spanning the middle supporting shaft 128'. The spring 236 biases the free end of the pleating plates away from each other.

Provision is also made for urging the free ends of the pleating plates 132' and 226 toward each other. For this purpose, such pleating plate is formed with a crank arm 238 extending from one side adjacent the sleeve thereof. The crank arm 238 extends along the side of the pleating plate with its pin 24th extending laterally of the crank arm.

A flat plate 242 with a tapering body has its wider end perforated and mounted on and fixedly secured to each of the shafts 222 and 212 mounting the top pleating plate 226 and the bottom pleating plate 132', respectively. Each plate 242 extends radially of its shaft and inwardly toward the pin 240 on the crank arm 238 on the respective pleating plate. An integral Mg 244 is formed on the inner free narrow end of each plate 242, extending laterally of the plate toward the adjacent crank arm 238 so that the pin 240 on the crank arm is adapted to be aligned with and juxtaposed with the lug 244.

On each of the mounting shafts 222 and 212, a compression spring 246 has one end coiled around the shaft and is secured thereto adjacent the block 210 with its other end 248 extending radially and inwardly through the space between the adjacent plate 242 and crank arm 238. The end of the spring is sufficiently long to extend over the juxtaposed pin 240 and lug 244, but normally said endis in engagement with the lug 244 on plate 242. However, the spring 246 on the top shaft 222 is adapted to contact the pin 240 on the crank arm 238 of the top pleating plate 226 and press the free end of the pleating plate downwardly toward the bottom pleating plate, and the spring 246 on the bottom shaft 212 is adapted to contact the pin on the crank arm 238 of the bottom pleating plate andpress the free end of the bottom pleating plate upwardly toward the top pleating plate. The purpose of the spring 236 is to keep the free ends of the pleating plates 226 and 132' apart so as to prevent chattering and noise. The spring 246 on the bottom shaft 212 lifts the free end of the bottom pleating plate 132' upwardly away from the stripper plate 40' in its inward operative movement. The spring 24-6 on the top shaft 220 presses the top pleating plate 226 downwardly to operative position for pleating on its operative inward movement.

The tube 266 on the middle shaft 123', block 210, top shaft 222 and bottom shaft 212 constitute a frame, which with the supporting pleating plates 226 and 132', is adapted to be rocked around the middle shaft 128' either clockwise or counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 17 by means of the lever and connected linkage similarly to the rocking of pleating plate 132 of FIG. 1. The pleating plates 226 and 132 in addition are adapted to be moved relativeto their mounting shafts toward each other by means of the springs 246.

This pleating assembly including the pleating plates 226 and 132' is adapted to be swung bodily toward and away from the needles 32' by means of the lever arm 124" and connected linkage similarly to the pleating assembly of' the form shown in FIGS. 1' to 15-, inclusive.

In operation, assuming that the pleating assembly is in its outermost inoperative position as shown in FIG. 7, in which the position of the follower rollers 158' and are positioned in the grooves 94' and 104, respectively,

away from the lobes and indentations therein, and the free ends of the pleating plates 226 and 132' are held in spaced separated condition by the spring 236, turning of the hand wheel 46 or the pulley 44 will rotate the needle-actuating shaft 42 causing up and down movements of the needles 32 for stitching. In timed relation to this stitching operation, the follower roller 190 in the groove 104' on the cam disk 80' contacts the indentation or dwell Ztlll in said groove and immediately actuates the' lever 18h bodily rocking the frame unit consisting of block 210, upper and lower shafts 222 and 212, respectively, and upper and lower pleating plates 226 and 132', respectively, counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 18, thereby swinging the free ends of the pleating plates to lowermost position with the free end of the upper pleating plate 226 pinching the material of the strip being stitched.

Simultaneously with this bodily rocking of the frame unit, the follower roller 153 in the groove 94' will have arrived at one of the lobes 28' in said groove whereupon the arm 156 is actuated and the shaft 128 with its supported frame including the pleating plates is swung in wardly carrying the pleating plates to the needles 32. During this inward movement, the free end of the top pleating plate 226 pushes more material toward the needles than the normal feeding mechanism feeds thereby causing the material to pucker up and thus form a loop L as shown in FIG. 22. Continued upward movement of the plate forces the material to overlap underneath the presser foot 36' forming one-half the box pleat P1 shown in FIG. 23. When the pleating plates are at their innermost travel, the roller 190 in groove 104' is still in the dwell or indentation 200 and the roller 158 in the groove 94' is at the crest of its respective lobe 98'. Continued turning of the wheel or pulley causes the free ends of the pleating plates to lift off the material and causes the follower roller 158 to ride down the other side of the lobe 98 thereby actuating the arm 124' to swing the frame with the pleating plates outwardly away from the needles to outermost position. During this outward movement, the spring 236 automatically separates the free ends of the pleating plates to keep same from chattering.

Continued turning of the wheel or pulley will cause stitching until the follower roller 190 in the groove 104' starts riding up the slope of the lobe 110' in the groove 104' whereupon the frame including the pleating plates are rocked in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 18 whereupon the free ends of the pleating plates are swung upwardly into contacting relation. This happens momentarily before the roller 158 in groove 94 starts to ride up the slope of the other lobe 98' in said groove. As soon as this happens the frame with the pleating plates is swung inwardly with the ends of the plates contacting each other and riding along the inner surface 205 of the presser plate 36'. While the free ends of the plates are thus moving inwardly, the end of the bottom pleating plate 132' pushes the material of the strip inwardly puckering up said material and forming a loop L opening inwardly and thus forming the other half of the box pleat P1 shown in FIG. 23. Continued turning of the wheel or pulley will drive the follower 158 in the groove 94 down the other side of the lobe 98 whereupon the arm 124' is actuated and the frame with the pleating plates swung outwardly to outermost position, concluding one cycle of pleating operations.

In FIGS. 24 and 25, another modified form of camming disk 86 is shown. In this form of camming disk, on one surface of the disk there is cut a continuous or endless annular groove or track SM adjacent the outer periphery thereof. The inner wall )6 of the track or groove 94 is formed with spaced radial projections or lobes 98 extending into spaced notches 106* formed in the outer edge 102 of the groove or track.

The opposite surface of the disk 8% is also formed with a continuous or endless annular groove or track 104 positioned inwardly of the track 94 The inner edge wall 106* of the track or groove 104 is formed with spaced notches 108 adapted to receive and accommodate spaced radial projections or lobes 110 extending from the outer edge wall 112 of the groove or track. The disk is formed with a central opening 82 and with a guide hole $58 adjacent the central opening.

In this form of camming disk 80 four projections or lobes 98 and four lobes 119 are formed for making groups of pleats 1? four in number, in spaced positions on the material as shown in FIG. 26.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of our invention, it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. Pleating mechanism for a sewing machine having an overhanging tubular arm, reciprocating needles and a needle-actuating shaft, said pleating mechanism comprising a bracket extending laterally from one side of the tubular arm, a pleating plate swingingly connected to said bracket, another bracket extending laterally of the opposite side of the tubular arm, a stub shaft supported in said other bracket, a cam disk rotatably supported on said stub shaft, operative means of connection between said disk and the needle-actuating shaft, flexible means of operative connection between both surfaces of the camming disk and of said pleating plate simultaneously for swinging said plate toward and away from the needles and for moving said pleating plate up and down in timed relation to the movement of the needles, said flexible means of operative connection between both surfaces of the camming disk and said pleating plate including endless grooves on 0pposite surfaces of the camming disk, spaced lobes on one edge wall of each groove, spaced notches on the other edge wall of each groove opposite the lobes, connected levers and links interposed between the surfaces of the camming disk and the pleating plate, and rollers on the ends of the levers riding in the grooves whereby the movements of the rollers are translated to the pleating plate.

2. Pleating mechanism for a sewing machine having an overhanging tubular arm, reciprocating needles and a needle-actuating shaft, said pleating mechanism comprising a bracket extending laterally from one side of the tubular arm, a pleating plate swingingly connected to said bracket, another bracket extending laterally of the opposite side of the tubular arm, a stub shaft supported in said other bracket, a cam disk rotatably supported on said stub shaft, operative means of connection between said disk and the needle-actuating shaft, flexible means of operative connection between both surfaces of the camming disk and of said pleating plate simultaneously for swinging said plate toward and away from the needles and for moving said pleating plate up and down in timed relation to the movement of the needles, said operative means of connection between the camming disk and the needle-actuating shaft including, a toothed wheel fixed on said stub shaft, a pinion fixed on the needle-actuating shaft, a train of gearing interposed between said pinion and the toothed wheel, said flexible means of operative connection between both surfaces of the camming disk and of said pleating plate including endless grooves on opposite surfaces of the camming disk, spaced lobes on one edge wall of each groove, spaced notches on the other edge wall of each groove opposite the lobes, connected levers and links interposed between the surfaces of the camming disk and the pleating plate, and rollers on the ends of the levers riding in the grooves whereby the movements of the rollers are translated to the pleating plate.

3. Pleating mechanism for a sewing machine having an overhanging tubular arm, reciprocating needles and a needle-actuating shaft, said pleating mechanism comprising a bracket extending from the tubular arm, a shaft journalled in said bracket, a lever arm connected at one end to said shaft and depending therefrom, a shaft fixed at one end to the other bottom end of the lever arm, an elongated block mounted on said bottom shaft, said block having a midlength opening receiving said bottom shaft and having openings at each end thereof, a shaft in each end opening in the block extending parallel to the bottom shaft, pleating plates pivotally carried by said last-named shafts in superimposed relation, another bracket extending from the opposite side of the tubular arm, a stub shaft supported in said other bracket, a cam disk rotatably supported on said stub shaft, operative means of connection between the disk and the needle-actuating shaft, flexible means of connection between one surface of the cam disk and the shaft mounting said arm, operative means of connection between the other surface of the cam disk and said block for rocking said pleating plates, and a coil spring carried by each shaft mounting said pleating plates for urging its respective pleating plate inwardly toward the other pleating plate.

4-. Pleating mechanism for a sewing machine having an overhanging tubular arm, reciprocating needles and a needle-actuating shaft, said pleating mechanism comprising a bracket extending from the tubular arm, a shaft journalled in said bracket, a lever arm connected at one end to said shaft and depending therefrom, a shaft fixed at one end to the other bottom end of the lever arm, an elongated block mounted on said bottom shaft, said block having a midlength opening receiving said bottom shaft and having openings at each end thereof, a shaft in each end opening in the block extending parallel to the bottom shaft, pleating plates pivotally carried by said last-named shafts in superimposed relation, another bracket extending from the opposite side of the tubular arm, a stub shaft.

supported in said bracket, a cam disk rotatably supported on said stub shaft, operative means of connection between the disk and the needle-actuating shaft, flexible means of connection between one surface of the cam disk and the shaft mounting said arm, operative means of connection between the other surface of the cam disk and said block for rocking said pleating plates, a spring means interposed between said pleating plates for biasing the free endsof the plates from each other, a crank arm on each of said pleating plates on one side thereof, said crank arm having a pin extending laterally thereof, and a coil spring sleeved around each shaft mounting said pleating plates, one end of the spring secured to the shaft, the other end of the spring extending radially of the shaft and adapted to engage the pin on the crank arm of the respective pleating plate for urging the plate inwardly toward the other plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 629,881 Townes et a1. Aug. 1, 1899 1,989,051 Corrall et a1. Jan. 22, 1935 2,283,535 Burkey May 19, 1942 2,377,777 Hale June 5, 1945 2,915,997 Seaman Dec. 8, 1959 2,935,958 Kuhn May 10, 1960 2,962,991 Burgert Dec. 6, 1960 2,988,027 Guerard June 13, 1961 

1. PLEATING MECHANISM FOR A SEWING MACHING HAVXNG AN OVERHANGING TUBULAR ARM, RECIPROCATING NEEDLES AND A NEEDLE-ACTUATING SHAFT, SAID PLEATING MECHANISM COMPRISING A BRACKET EXTENDING LATERALLY FROM ONE SIDE OF THE TUBULAR ARM, A PLEATING PLATE SWINGINGLY CONNECTED TO SAID BRACKET, ANOTHER BRACKET EXTENDING LATERALLY OF THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE TUBULAR ARM, A STUB SHAFT SUPPORTED IN SAID OTHER BRACKET, A CAM DISK ROTATABLY SUPPORTED ON SAID STUB SHAFT, OPERATIVE MEANS OF CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID DISK AND THE NEEDLE-ACTUATING SHAFT, FLEXIBLE MEANS OF OPERATIVE CONNECTION BETWEEN BOTH SURFACES OF THE CAMMING DISK AND OF SAID PLEATING PLATE SIMULTANEOUSLY FOR SWINGING SAID PLATE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE NEEDLES AND FOR MOVING SAID PLEATING PLATE UP AND DOWN IN TIMED RELATION TO THE MOVEMENT OF THE NEEDLES, SAID FLEXIBLE MEANS OF OPERATIVE CONNECTION BETWEEN BOTH SURFACES OF THE CAMMING DISK AND SAID PLEATING PLATE INCLUDING ENDLESS GROOVES ON OPPOSITE SURFACES OF THE CAMMING DISK, SPACED LOBES ON ONE EDGE WALL OF EACH GROOVE, SPACED NOTCHES ON THE OTHER EDGE WALL OF EACH GROOVE OPPOSITE THE LOBES, CONNECTED LEVERS AND LINKS INTERPOSED BETWEEN THE SURFACES OF THE CAMMING DISK AND THE PLEATING PLATE, AND ROLLERS ON THE ENDS OF THE LEVERS RIDING IN THE GROOVES WHEREBY THE MOVEMENTS OF THE ROLLERS ARE TRANSLATED TO THE PLEATING PLATE. 